Girdwood is a small, unincorporated village southeast of Anchorage. The town is best known for the seven permanent surrounding glaciers, as well as a ski resort that is open for a large part of the year at Mount Alyeska. While the winter sports may dominate in winter, the summer months see thousands of visiting anglers enjoy the sport fishing options in the Girdwood area.
Girdwood is in south central Alaska, approximately 40 miles from the outskirts of Anchorage. The city is surrounded by the Chugach National Forest, and is also near the Turnagin Arm of the Gulf of Alaska. The unincorporated village is not on the Kenai Peninsula, but it is close.
Freshwater fish in the area surrounding Girdwood include grayling, Dolly Varden, and five species of salmon that can also be found in the saltwater of the Gulf of Alaska, depending on the time of the year. Arctic char are also in the area, as well as rainbow trout. Girdwood isn't on the sea, but there are nearby charters available on both sides of the Kenai for Pacific salmon, halibut and other saltwater species.
All anglers in Alaska 16 years old or older, whether local or tourist, must have a sports fishing license in order to fish anywhere in Alaska, and Girdwood is no exception. The local fishing limits for Girdwood will follow the same regulations as Anchorage from season to season. These numbers change annually and need to be checked every year to be safe.
Fly fishing is a favorite style of many visitors. There is a river passing through Girdwood that teems with grayling, Dolly Varden, salmon and trout. The Kenai River, widely considered the best fly fishing river in Alaska, is only a one hour drive away. Saltwater charters are also available, for anglers who are more interested in chasing a trophy halibut or the salmon when they're still out in the saltwater.
There are many guides and charters available in the area. Fly fishing guides will often encourage the one hour travel to the Kenai River, where salmon, trout, grayling and other fish are in abundance. Saltwater charters most often specialize in either halibut or salmon, although some claim to specialize in both.
